Apparatus for marking continuously moving articles



y 1952 I. s. GOTTSCHO EI'AL 2,604,039

APPARATUS FOR MARKING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 12, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTORS. IRA s. Gan-swa Hnuom Alma 1:

BY Cfi M AT TO R N EY y 1952 I. s. GOTTSCHO ETAL 2,604,039

APPARATUS FOR MARKING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 12, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FIG. -4

INVENTORS. IRA S. G-a'rTscHo Mam J4 HIRSeI/EY BY z ZM ATTO R N EY Patented July 22, 1952 APPARATUS FOR MARKING CONTINU- OUSLY MOVING ARTICLES Ira S. Gottscho, Brooklyn, and Malcolm'flirschey, Woodside, N. Y., assignors,,by direct and mesne assignments, to Adolph Gottscho, Inc., Hillside,

N. J a corporation of. New York Application November 12, 1948, Serial No. 59,626

6 Claims.

This inventionrelates to markingapparatus and is particularly! directed to apparatus for applying indicia to continuously moving arti cles.

More specifically; the invention is directed to apparatus for. marking recessedsurfaces, such as for example the bottom of jars or any other similar articles whichhave recessed or upwardly pressed surfaces. Because of the rim around the recessed bottoms of su'ch articles, which interferes with the markingelement, diificulty is experienced in applying the marking indicia by standard marking apparatus. Also, in utilizing apparatus as previously employed for applying indicia tothe recessed bottoms of such articles,

it has been necessary to feed the articles to the apparatus intermittently and apply the marking with the article at rest by moving the marking element into the recessed bottom by means of cam operated mechanism. Moreover, with apparatusof the character indicated as at present employed, improper marking is applied when the depth of the recessed bottomrof the articles be-,

ing marked varies even slightly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention resides in the provision of apparatus of the character indicated which overcomes the objections and disadvantages of prior apparatus.

Another object resides in the provision'of such apparatus which is. simple in construction and has a high production rate.

Another object resides in the provision of such apparatus having means, for applyingindicia to the recessedbottoms of continuously moving articles.

Another object is" theprovision of such apparatus having-means for holding the continuously moving article j against lateral movement during the marking operationj I Another object resides in the'p-rovision of means associated with the marking element for prevent- A further object residesin the provision of such a paratus wherein the marking element, article conveying mechanism and article supply:

ing mechanism are'driven from the same common drive shaft. Q

Other and further objects of the invention will be manifest from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of apparatus in accordance with the present invention; I r

Fig. 2 is aside elevational'view thereof 2 Fig. 3 is a sectionalview taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1; n

Fig. 4 isa perspective view of-the marking element; and r Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the means for adjustably mounting the marking element on its shaft.

Generally described, the apparatus comprises a table-like structure having an article marking station, a conveyor for moving articles across the marking station, means for supplying articles to the conveyor, a'marking element and operating means therefor at the station, and a continuously driven commondriv'e for the conveyor, the supplying means, and the marking element operating means, all elements of the apparatus be--- ing associated with the structure to' p'rovide a unitary apparatus. Referring to the drawings in detailandmore particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3thereof, there is shown apparatus' Ill, constructed in accordance ture ortable comprising ahorizontal platform or bed [2, upright corner 'posts'or legs l4 sup porting the platform, and horizontal frame meming movement of the article relative to the mark ing means during the, marking operation,

Another object resides in the provision 'of' with the movement'of the articles.

Another object resides in the provision of gate mechanism for releasing and supplying the arti cles individually to the, feeding mechanism timed relation h e t qn, of the marking element hers l6 connected to the "legs (Fig. 2) adjacent the lower ends thereof providing a supportffor drive mechanism as describedhereinafter.

The platform has an pe m l8 therein vtrig;

3) whichis'at the marking station and. over which articles A are moved for the application of indicia to the recessed bottom thereof. The

platform also is formed with laterallend slots 22 (Fig. 1) through which portionsof the conveyor 1 mechanism are-adapted toiextend, and has a lat-.v

The platform is further prdvided-wi-th a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending tracks or rai1s '25 and '28 for guiding the articles incenterd"-relation ove r the marking station openingiw i rrev e ta e e e nto ere-1 3 cles during the application of the marking indicia thereto.

The conveyor, as illustrated herein, preferably comprises a pair of parallel endless chains 30, a

shaft 32 at each end of. and beneath the platform I2rotatably mounted by bearing structure 34 secured to the legs I4, a pair of sprockets 3-6 on each of the shafts 32 over which the chains 30 pass so that the upper leads or strands of the chains extend lengthwise above the platform I2 (Figs. 1 and 2), and a pair of sprockets 38 ona main drive shaft 40 under which the lower leads "ascr'ew threaded member 91 extending through an aperture 96 in the platform and having a manually operable supporting head 98 thereon to facilitate rotation thereof whereby the frame may or strands of the chains 30 pass. .If' desired, 1'

one of the bearing structures 34 may provide construction for adjustment. of the position of the shaft supported thereby to adjust the tightness of the chains 30 about the sprockets 36 and 38, such construction being illustrated at the right hand end of the platform as viewed in Fig.2. I

The chains 30 have secured theretov a plurality of evenly spaced lateral arms orfiights 42 adapted to enter and exit through the slots 22 and pass over the platform to move the articles lengthwise across the platform between the tracks :article is conveyed by the conveyor for releasing and supplying a single article to each arm. This gate mechanism comprises a'pair of rails 44 on the platform (Fig; 1) through which articles are guided, .a gate arm 46 pivotally mountedat-48 on the platform and having a stop finger 50 thereon normally extending across the rails 44 to obstruct the passage ofthe articles, a spring element 52 for retaining the gate arm in such normal position, a cam 54 on a vertical shaft 56 for operating the gate arm periodically to cause the stop finger to release an article, and a star wheel or feed spider 58 above the platform onthe upper end of the shaft 56 having recesses 60 for receiving the sides of the articles and having fingers 62 for positioning the articles on the platform for engagement by the arms 42 of the'conveyor.

At the marking station thereis provided yieldable means for holding or urging the articles downwardly while being moved across the opening I8. As shown in Fig. 2, such means com prises a yieldable element such as a flat spring 64, having ahorizontal portion 66 for engaging the top of the articles while passing thereunder in sliding relation and having U-shaped ends 68 each secured to an arm (Fig. 3) supported by an upright post I2 on the platform I2. Preferably, the arms 10 are removably connected to the posts by clamping means to facilitate adjusting the vertical'position thereof to thereby-adjust the spring portion to accommodate articles of dif-. ferent height and to adjust the resilient action of the spring on thevarticles and the yielding thereof in relation to the action of the marking element during the application of markingin dicia, as will become apparent hereinafter.

The marking" element operating mechanism comprises a generally rectangular frame 14 associatedwith the platform, a marking element I6 and inking means I8 for the marking element both supported by the frame in the manner about to be described. I

The frame I4 hasside' walls 80 and 82 the upperendsrofwhich extend through the opening 24 and has; horizontal upper andlower webs -84 and 86 connecting the side walls. The Side wall 26 and 28 and over the marking station opening be 'raisedor lowered with respect to the platform. I

The side walls 80 and 82have bearings in the upper portion thereof for rotatably supporting a shaft I00 havin a portion extending beneath the 5, the marking element comprisingv a-body member I02 having an aperture I04 extending there-'v through for receiving the shaft I00 and having indicia applying means I06 detachably connected thereto by apertured'clip means IOI at one end thereof adapted to extend upwardly through the opening I8 upon rotationof the shaft I00. Adjacent each side of theindicia applying means there is provided an arcuate rib or bearer I00 having a circular surface of substantially the same height as the indicia applying means I06- andadapted to extend through the opening I8- a distance sufficient to contact the recessed underside ofthe articles and to raise the sameofi the top surface of the table I2 in opposition to the spring 64 while the indicia is being applied.

In order to adjust the circumferential position of the indicia applying means of the marking element with respect to the center of the depressed portion of the articles and in relation to the position of the conveyor arm 42 which determines the positioning of the articles with respect to the opening 18; the end portion of the shaft I00-is slotteddiametrically at III] and is threaded and countersunk centrally at II2 for the reception of screw Il4adapted to wedge the split portions of the. shaft, I00. against the aperture walls of the body I02 to secure the.

body with respect to the shaft.

The side walls 80 and 82also have bearings in the lower portion thereof for rotatably supporting a shaft II6 having a portion extending beneath the marking element on which an ink ing roller H8 is mounted for contact with the indicia applying means I06. The inking roller is in the form of a narrow disc having a periph-v (Fig. 2) are provided on either side of the inking roller H8 for removing ink fromthe side faces of the roller. Aninkwell I20 is secured to, the side wall member 82 and receives the lower portion of roller- II8...,; f

The shaft H0 isrotated by a chain. I22 extending over a sprocket Won the shaft H0 and a sprocket (notshownipn the main drive shaft 40, and in turn rotates the shaft M6 by intermeshing gears I26 and I28 on the shafts I00and II6 respectively v Any slack in chain I22;.due,to

.. lowering of the frame maybe removedby an adjustableidler'sprocket I30 '(Fig. 2).',']

The drive mechanism, as shown more par ticularly in Fig; 2, comprises an" electric motor I32 supported by the frame members Hi which rotates the common drive s'haftrlll' journalled for rotation on these frame members by means of pulleys I34 and I36 on the motor shaftand the common drive shaft,-.-respectively,' and a belt I38. 5

In addition to operating the conveyor and marking element as previously indicated-herein, the main driveshaft 40 also operates the :gate mechanism in timed relation; This is accomplished by rotating the shaft 56 through; bevel gears I40 and I42 and a sprocket" l-H-forrotating the gear I42, the sprocket-I44 being driven by a chain I46 extending. over'a' sprocket (not shown) on the main drive shaft. I

The drive is so constructed and arranged that the gate willsupply an article to each conveyor arm or flight, and that the marking element functions each time an article iscenteredover the marking station opening l8.- Such arrangement enables these mechanisms to be operated continuously and uninterruptedly without complicated cams or the like and enables articles to have indicia applied thereto while, moving over the opening, at a rate whereby a large number of articles canbe accurately and effectively marked in a given period of time. V

' From the foregoing description, it will beseen that the present invention provides novel apparatus for marking articles of the type hereinbefore described in an extremelyimproved manner and which apparatus is compact and greatly simplified in construction and operation to;reduce the cost thereof. The apparatus is-adjustable to accommodate articles of various heights and diameter and is adapted to accommodate articles having depressed surfaces varying widely in dimensions beyond the usual permitted tolerances. The apparatus is rugged in construction and can readily withstand such rough usage to which it normally may be subjected over long periods of continuous operation.

While we have illustrated and described one embodiment of our inventiomit is .to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to that precise structure-and arrangement of parts, as obviously various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim is:

I. In marking apparatus including a horizontal platform having an opening therein and continuous conveyor means for moving articles linearly across said platform and over said opening; the combination of a verticallyg-"movable frame mounted adjacent said platform, a,-continuously rotating, horizontal shaft journalled in said frame and extending. beneath said opening, a circumferentially adjustable marking: element on said shaftradapted to extend through said opening and having impression means for applying indicia to the bottoms of the articles, means for suspending said frame from said platform and for adjusting the vertical position thereof to determine the distance said marking element extends through said opening, an inkwell mounted on said frame, a second shaft on said frame, an inking roller on said second shaft dipping into said inkwell and being aligned with said impression means to transfer ink to the latter, common driving means for said conveyor and for the first mentioned shaft and said second shaft, a bearer member carried by said marking element on each side of said impression means and'engageable with thebottom surface of ,anarticle over saidopening to prevent longitudinal movement of the article relative to saidimpression means during the, marking operation, spaced parallel tracks'onthe platformat the opposite sidesof the opening to guideithe articles.

the articles during ,themarking operation; I

r 2. In marking apparatus for marking the recessed bottoms ofarticles including a platform having an opening therein and continuous conveyor means for moving articles in spaced relation across said platform and over said opening; the combination of a contmuouslynioving marking element mounted beneath said opening and extending therethrough to project above the platform surface and. apply indicia to the. recessed bottoms of thearticles, driving means for moving the conveyor means and marking element in timed relationship so that the latter is operative to apply indicia to eacharticle as it is moved over said opening, yieldable means above said opening for urging the articles downwardly toward thev platform surface. while the articles move over said opening, and arcuate means carried on :either side of the marking element and of substantially the same height as the latter to move with said marking element for engaging the recessed bottom of the article being marked and lifting the same off the surface of the platform against said yieldable means so that marking engagement of the marking element with recessed bottoms, of non-uniform depths is assured.

3. In marking .aparatus for marking the recessed bottoms of articles including a platform having an opening therein and continuous conveyor means for moving articles in spaced relation across said platform and over said opening;

the combination of a continuously moving marking element extending from below through said opening to project above the platform surface and apply indicia'tothe recessed bottoms of, the articles, mounting means for said marking element adjustable vertically for raising and lowering the; latter to adjust the distance said marking element, projects" above said platform surface, driving means for moving the conveyor means and marking element in timed relationship so that the latter is operative to apply indicia to each article as it ismoved over said opening, yieldable means above said opening for urging the articles downwardly toward the platform surface while the articles move over said. opening, means, for adjusting the vertical position of said yieldable means relative to the platform surface to accommodate articles of different heights, and arcuate means carried on either side 'of the marking element and of substantially the same height as the latter to move with said marking element for engaging the recessed bottom of the article being marked and lifting the same off the platform surface against said yieldable means so that marking engagement of the marking element with recessed bottoms of non-uniform depths is assured.

4. In marking apparatus for marking the recessed bottoms of articles including a platform having an opening therein and a continuously moving conveyor having spaced arms for moving articles across said platform and over said opening; the combination of a frame adjacent said platform; a shaft rotatably supported by"said frame and extending beneath said opening, a marking element on said shaft extending through said opening to project above the platform sur-' face and having impression means for applying indicia to the recessed bottoms of the articles, driving means for said shaft and said conveyor moving the latter in timed relationship with said marking element so that the impression means on thelatter is operative to apply indicia'to each article as it is moved over the opening, an inkwell and inking roller carried by saidfframe, means for suspending said frame from said plat-: form and adjusting the vertical position thereof to vary the distance said marking element pro-v jects above the'platform surface, a spring mounted on the platform above said opening and having a horizontal portion for engaging the tops o'f the articles and urging the latter downwardly while the articles are positioned over said'jopen ing, means for adjusting the vertical position of said springrelative to the platform surface to accommodatearticles of different heights therebetween, and an arcuate bearer member carried by said marking element on each side of said impression means and of substantially the same height as the latter to move with the marking element for engaging the recessed bottom of the article being marked and lifting the same off the platform surface against said horizontal portion of the spring so that marking engagement of said impression means with recessed bottoms of non-1 uniform depths is assured, said impression means being in alignment with said inking roller for receiving ink from the latter, and said bearer members beingspaced from each other out of the planes of the sides of. said inking roller.

5. In. marking apparatus for marking therecessed bottoms of articles and including a hori-. zontal platform having an opening therein; the combination of spaced parallel tracks on said platform adjacent to said opening for guiding articles across saidplatform and oversaid open-. ing while preventing lateral movement of the articles, an endless continuouslymoving conveyor having spaced [arms extending laterally across said tracks for moving articles. between ,said tracks and over said opening, a frame adjacent said platform, a shaft rotatable on said frame and extending beneath said opening, a markingelement mounted for rotation on said shaft and ex tending through said opening to project'above the platform and apply indicia to the recessed bottoms of the articles, driving means for .said conveyor and said shaft operative to move said conveyor and the marking element in timedrela tionship so thatthe latter is operative to apply indicia to each articleas it ismovedover said opening, yieldable means mounted on said platform above said. opening for .urging the articles downwardly when the latter arepositioned over said opening, and ,arcuate bearers mounted on opposite sides of .saidmarking element andof 8 substantiallythe same height asthe latter for engaging the recessed bottom of the article being marked and lifting the same off the surface of the platform againstsaid yieldable means so that markingenga'gement'of the'marking element with recessed bottoms of -non-uniform depth is assured. i

6. In marking apparatus" for marking the recessed'b'ottom's'of articlesythe combination of a horizontal platform having an opening therein, spaced parallel tracks on said platform adjacent said opening for guiding articles across said platform and overfsaid opening while preventing lateral movenienfl'of the'articles'," an endless continuously'movingconveyor having spaced arms extending laterally across 'said tracks for moving articles between the 'latter,"-a" frame adjacent said platform, a shaft rotatably-mounted on said frame' and' extending beneath said opening, a marking elementmo'unted for rotation on said shaft a'n'd'extendin'g through said opening to projec't above said platform and apply indicia to the recessed bottoms of the articles, means for circumferentially adjusting the position of 1 said marking element on said shaft in relationto the position of said arms with respect to said opening, drivingmeansfor moving said conveyor and shaft in timed relationship sothat the'latter is operative to apply indicia to each art'i'cle as it is moved over said opening, means for suspending said frame from said platform toadjustthe' vertical distance sa'id marking element projects abovesaid platform','yieldable means mounted on said'platform above said opening for urging the articles downwardly while the latter are; positioned over said opening, means for adjusting the vertical position of said yieldable means with respect to said platform, -and arcuate bearers mounted on the'opposite sides'of said marking element and of substantially the same height as the latter for engaging the recessed bottom of he article being marked'and lifting the sameoff said platform against said yieldable means so that marking engagement of the marking element with recessed bottoms of non-uniform depths'is assured.

' IRA s.- GOITSCHQ. e

' MALCOLM HIRSC' HEY.

REFERENCES CITED'- I The following references are of'record in the fileof this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number v Name I Date 980,795 Kirby 'Jan. 3, 1911 1,267,167 Baker May 21, 1918 1,303,042 Dowson etal. May-6,1919

1,526,357 Manischewitz Feb. 17, 1925 1,538,079 Albertoli" l i; May 19,1925 1,807,631 McKee June 2', 1931 2,195,173 'JackS0I 1 Mar. 26, 1940 Davies May 24, 1949 

